Special Education Advisory Committee Meeting - November 2, 2026

The St. Mary Parish School Board’s Special Education Advisory Committee met on November 2, 2026. The committee did not have a quorum, so it could not approve the prior meeting minutes. Presenters explained Louisiana’s Early Steps program for children from birth to age three, including eligibility, referrals, evaluations, family-centered services, and transition to school-based services. They noted that automatic eligibility for children born at or before 32 weeks’ gestation now lasts through age one rather than age two, and that the state’s referral process is expected to change under a “no wrong door” approach. The committee also received an overview of special education reevaluations, which generally occur at least every three years and may be initiated in other circumstances, including parent or teacher requests.

Members discussed the recent Special Olympics bowling event and the upcoming track-and-field event in Patterson, and invited attendees to suggest future agenda topics. No contracts, bids, vendor selections, budget allocations, or other procurement activity were identified in the transcript.